NFL wants the Chargers in San Diego, but ...

Commissioner weighs in at pre-Super Bowl Q and A

(Nothing new to report on those local talks, by the way. For our latest and more on the AEG deal, see our Tuesday story here.)

Below is the question from the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer (on Twitter @LATimesFarmer) about the unprecedented naming rights deal announced this week, and Goodell's response.

Roger, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. Earlier this week, Anschutz Entertainment Group announced a 30-year, $700 million naming rights deal with Farmers Insurance and keeping in mind the fact you mention there have been no stadium starts since 2006, can you look ahead and tell me what a naming rights deal, which would be the largest in history, would mean to bringing football back to Los Angeles. And is this a game changer?

Well, Sam, I think it's obviously a positive development because it's an important revenue stream, but even with that positive development, the financing of a stadium in Los Angeles is still a very difficult proposition. We have to get the collective bargaining agreement addressed in such a way as to make it so that that is a smart investment that can be financed so that we can create the kind of economic activity in Los Angeles that I believe can happen if we're successful, whether it be in downtown or be out at the City of Industry. There are some great opportunities for us to continue to grow the game, but we have to recognize the cost that's associated and address it in a ay that incentivizes everyone to make those kind of investments. But this is a positive thing for the league, for the players and for the game, and for, most importantly, our fans in southern California.

For those still with me, ESPN.com's Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) took to Twitter immediately after the news conference to explain what Goodell was getting at with that answer.

In one Tweet, he wrote: "The big reason why Goodell still cited financing when LA stadium question came up is he wants players to contribute to the G3 stadium fund."

In a second, he added: "NFL's stadium funding program helped finance 21 new stadiums since 1995 but the well has run dry and players no longer want to contribute."